TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP REQUESTS GUANTANAMO

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000118

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE


STATE FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP REQUESTS GUANTANAMO
DETAINEE INFO



1. (U) On January 21, Poloff met with Ahmet Mercan, Istanbul
Chairman of Islamically-oriented Turkish human rights group
Mazlum-Der (Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for
Oppressed People). Mazlum-Der provided Poloff with a letter
dated January 13, 2003, requesting information on a Turkish
citizen they believe to be a detainee at Guantanamo Bay Naval
Base, Murat Kurnaz.



2. (U) In its letter, Mazlum-Der asked the following specific
questions:


-for what reason is Kurnaz in custody and what is his status?


-More than 12 months have passed since Kurnaz was taken into
custody. If he is going to be brought before a court in your
country, according to which international treaty will this be
done?


-In the 12 months Kurnaz has been detained, has he been
questioned by a judge? Does he have the right to fair trial?
What are the grounds for this?



3. (U) Mercan also verbally requested information on which
international or non-governmental organizations have been to
Guantanamo to observe the prisoners and their conditions.
Mercan said that he also requests that a group of Turkish
human rights advocates be allowed to visit the prisoners at
Guantanamo. He said that Mazlum-Der would be glad to
participate, but would be happy if any group was able to go.
ARNETT